Gadling

10 breeds of pirate - Somalis to Vikings to Japanese Pirate Ninjas

Justin Delaney — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Asia, Europe, North America, Madagascar, Niger, Somalia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Oman, Norway, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, United States, Caribbean, Travel Security

A yacht carrying a quartet of Americans was recently seized by Somali pirates, the latest in a string of hijackings that reaches back millenia. According to MSNBC, the seized yacht, the "S/V Quest," is owned by Jean and Scott Adam - a couple on a worldwide quest distributing bibles. While they no doubt expected to spread the word far and wide, they were certainly not expecting to be boarded by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman in the Arab sea. The waters along the horn of Africa are a hotbed of piracy, and travelling by boat in this region is about as reckless as booking a 2 week holiday in Mogadishu.

The Somali pirates are the modern day face of an enterprise that has existed for centuries. Piracy has been part of seafaring culture since man first took to the open water. As early as 1400 BC, Lukka sea raiders from Asia Minor began committing acts of piracy throughout the Mediterranean. These early pirates were known simply as the "Sea Peoples." Aside from these early innovators of seaward sabotage, many groups and clans have sailed under the banner of terror on the high seas. The Vikings innovated the craft, the Barbary corsairs elevated it to an art, and the pirates of the Caribbean made it famous. Many other groups, operating in the shadows of history, took to piracy on the high seas. From dark age plundering to modern day terrorism, some of these groups of pirates include:

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10 breeds of pirate - Somalis to Vikings to Japanese Pirate Ninjas originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mountain gorillas making a comeback

Sean McLachlan — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Africa, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ecotourism, News, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire)

In the latest in a spate of good news about wildlife conservation in Africa, BBC Earth reports that mountain gorillas have increased their numbers on Virunga Massif, their core habitat stretching across Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. From a population of only 250 thirty years ago, their population has almost doubled to 480 today. Another 302 live in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

The rise is attributed to increased cooperation between the three countries to protect the gorillas and stop poachers.

Safaris to see mountain gorillas have become increasingly popular with adventure travelers. Uganda has expanded its gorilla safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwanda is also offering safaris to see the gentle giants.

African nations are getting better at preserving their wildlife. Namibia and Zimbabwe are clamping down on poaching and last year we reported how Niger has pulled a unique subspecies of giraffe from extinction.

[Photo courtesy user KMRA via Wikimedia Commons]

Mountain gorillas making a comeback originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One in five vertebrates face extinction

Sean McLachlan — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Niger, Japan, Kiribati, Ecotourism, News

The bad news: One in five vertebrates could go extinct within our lifetime, and the number may rise even higher than that.

The good news: It would be a lot worse if it weren't for conservation efforts.

That's the verdict of a global study of 25,000 threatened vertebrate species presented to the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, in Nagoya, Japan. It found mammals, amphibians, and birds are especially hard hit, with fifty species a day sliding closer to extinction. The main culprits are logging, agriculture, hunting, and alien species.

Yet conservation efforts are saving some animals. The white rhino, like the ones pictured above, was almost extinct a hundred years ago but is now the most common rhino in Africa and its status has been upped to Near Threatened, meaning that while it still needs to be watched, it's not in any immediate danger. Here's where ecotourism comes in handy. For example, Niger is hoping to cash in on safari tours by helping a unique subspecies of giraffe, bringing the population from fifty to two hundred in just a decade. Countries where the white rhinos roam are also pushing ecotourism and safaris.

Another success story is the giant marine reserve created in the South Pacific a few years back. This 73,800 square-mile reserve is one of the world's largest and was created by Kiribati, one of the world's smallest countries. If tiny island nations and poverty-ridden countries can help out their animals, one has to wonder why any species in the First World are threatened at all. Major food sources like tuna face extinction and even mythical beasts like the Loch Ness Monster may be extinct. When even our legends are dying out, you know we're in trouble.

[Photo courtesy Joachim Huber]

One in five vertebrates face extinction originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Obama Effect" helps African tourism

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Madagascar, Niger

Last year was a bad year for travel in most places, but a continent that has generally been overlooked by the majority of travelers is seeing boom times--Africa.

Africa is the only continent to see a rise in tourism last year, up 5 percent when most other places felt the pinch. The UN World Tourism Organization revealed the figures this week and said Africa had "bucked the trend" of the worldwide travel recession. Part of the boom is attributed to the "Obama Effect", a new curiosity about Africa thanks to the U.S. having its first African-American president. Obama, seen here playing basketball in the African nation of Djibouti, has family in Kenya. The tourist board there says visitors are flocking in to learn more about where the president is from.

The other big factor is the World Cup, due to take place in South Africa this year. Not only will that bring a huge number of visitors to South Africa, but it helps put the entire continent on the map.

Not all countries are doing well. The Gambia has been hit hard, with the usual crowd of beach-loving Europeans tanning closer to home. Meanwhile, Chad and Niger are struggling to expand their tiny tourism industries by protecting and promoting their wildlife. The overall picture, however, looks rosy.

Will this be the decade Africa comes into its own as a tourist destination? There's no shortage of natural wonders, ancient civilizations, and interesting cultures to explore. Our very own Stephen Greenwood is having an incredible time in Madagascar right now, a friend of mine is crossing the entire continent on a motorcycle, and later next month I'll be sending dispatches from Ethiopia.

Have you been in Africa? Tell us about it in the comments section!

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"Obama Effect" helps African tourism originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle

Sean McLachlan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Botswana, Burkina, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Spain, Budget Travel

Thomas Tomczyk is serious about motorcycles. He's done three motorcycle trips across India, from the steamy southern tip all the way up to the frozen highlands of Ladakh. Now he's starting his childhood dream--an epic trip 12,500 miles (20,000 km) across Africa.

His zigzag tour will take in 22 African nations including South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, the Saharawi Republic, and Morocco. . .

. . .before he ends up skinny, exhausted, and happy at my house in Spain, where my wife will fatten him up with her excellent paella.

Full disclosure: Thomas is a friend of mine. We covered the massive Hindu pilgrimage of Kumbh Mela together in 2001 and barely managed not to get trampled to death by hordes of naked holy men. But even if I didn't know him, this trip is so thoroughly cool I would have reported on it anyway.

Thomas isn't just going on vacation; he'll be visiting innovative grassroots projects that are making life better for the average African. Through his website Africa Heart Beat he'll be telling us about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, such as creating a job center for landmine victims in Mozambique, an AIDS theater group in Botswana, and a Muslim-Christian vocational center in Mali that's bringing the two communities together.

"The idea of crossing Africa came to me when I was 10," Thomas says.

Continue reading The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle

The ultimate road trip: 12,500 miles across Africa on a motorcycle originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remote African nation saves rare giraffes from extinction

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Africa, Niger, News

Niger doesn't get in the news much. This landlocked Saharan nation doesn't have much in the way of national resources, is listed by the UN as one of the world's least developed countries, and yet it has a serious attitude towards conservation.

Niger is home to a unique subspecies of giraffe, pictured here. Poaching and desertification had reduced its numbers to only fifty individuals a decade ago, but then the people of Niger realized what they were about to lose, banned hunting, and launched a conservation program. Now thanks to these efforts the giraffes' numbers have risen to two hundred. The Giraffe Conservation Foundation has been working with the Niger government and people to keep this positive trend going.

Strangely, the giraffes are congregating around the capital Niamey, where they can be seen wandering across farmers' fields and drinking from troughs set out for cattle.

The government hopes the giraffes will promote tourism. While Niger is beneath most travelers' radar, its very remoteness could be a draw for people interested in visiting traditional societies and seeing the Sahara's harsh beauty. A night camping under the full moon in the Sahara is one of my favorite travel memories. A few giraffes walking across the silvered landscape would have made it even better.

Remote African nation saves rare giraffes from extinction originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Norway world's best place to live

Tom Johansmeyer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Congo, Niger, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, China, Iran, Nepal, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United States, Australia

I'm not sure if everybody wants to live in Norway, but it's certainly at the top of the global list. The United Nations Development Program determined this based on data GDP, education and life expectancy - among other metrics - to find the best of the best, as well as the other end of the spectrum. The data's from 2007, though, so it doesn't reflect a post-financial crisis world.

Joining Norway are Australia and Iceland, the latter of which was a hot location until a year ago, when the entire country got an International Monetary Fund package normally reserved for the third-est of third-world countries. Yet, even with the recession in mind, Iceland (a favorite destination of mine) is still far better than Niger, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone, which sit at the bottom of the list. Several other sub-Saharan African states also ranked toward the bottom because of ongoing war and the proliferation of HIV/AIDS.

The spread is most evident in life expectancy, where a mailing address in Norway would add 30 years relative to Niger. In Niger, the current average life expectancy is 50. And, for every dollar that someone earns in Niger, the same person would pick up $85 in Norway. In Afghanistan, one can expect to live only 43.6 years.

Money matters, still. Lichtenstein continues to boast the world's highest GDP per capital at $85,383. The 35,000 people who live there share the small principality with 15 banks and more than 100 wealth management companies. The Democratic Republic of Congo has the lowest income in the world: $298 per person per year.

The top climbers on the list for 2007 were China, Iran and Nepal.

Norway world's best place to live originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans

Jamie Rhein — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Africa, Burkina, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Video, Across Northern Europe with Brook Silva-Braga

When I watched the trailer of One Day in Africa, the latest documentary of Brook Silva-Braga, the resonance of village and city life in most African countries was immediately evident. It's a resonance that often doesn't make headline news. It resides in the pattern of each day that starts before the sun comes up when Africans, in particular women, get busy.

The shot of women pounding grain comes to mind. When I lived in a Gambian village for two years as a Peace Corps volunteer, the thwack of a wooden pestle against a mortar as it removed husks from grain was like a heartbeat.

What Silva-Braga shows about African life is that it has rhythm and cadence and is not totally embroiled with AIDS and poverty. There is another theme to explore, one that involves the complex melding of African traditions with the modern world.

Sure AIDS, poverty and violence do exist, but they are not what Brook Silva-Braga set out to show in his second film project. His first film, A Map for Saturday, was a documentary about around the world travel--his and others. That film included every continent except Africa.

One Day in Africa is a companion project in a way, but the focus is different. In this latest project, Silva-Braga got up close and personal with his subjects-- six Africans, both men and women, whose stories are typical of the stories of others who live in this vast continent. [For the trailer, keep reading.]

Continue reading One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans

One Day in Africa: Lives of six ordinary Africans originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Jan 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Independence Days to Celebrate

Jamie Rhein — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, Benin, Burkina, Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, France, Moldova, Ukraine, Peru, Uruguay

August is another Independence Day bonanza. The shifts of power didn't happen all at once, but 1960 was a big year. If you're in any of these countries expect a holiday. Maybe there will be fireworks or a parade or a speech or two.

August 1 - Benin gained independence from France
August 3-- Niger gained its independence from France
August 5 --Burkina Faso also gained independence from France.
August 11--Guess which country Chad gained independence from? That's right, France.
August 13--Central African Republic also gained independence from--you guessed it--France.
August 14- Pakistan from the U.K. in 1947.
August 15- India from the U.K. in 1947.
August 17- Gabon. Can you guess the country and year? If you said France and 1960, ***ding ding ding ! [Did you hear the you win bells?]
August 19- Afganistan from the U.K. in 1919. Wow, that's early.
August 24- Ukraine in 1991.
August 25- Uruguay from Brazil in 1825.
August 27- Moldova from U.S.S.R. in 1991
August 31- Kyrgystan from the U.S.S.R in 1991 and Trinidad and Tobago from the U.K. in 1962.

*The information is from the International Calendar published by the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison, Wisconsin. They put this calendar together every year and other Peace Corps groups sell it as a fundraiser.

More Independence Days to Celebrate originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Running the Sahara

Erik Olsen — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:43:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Hiking, Festivals and Events, Podcasts, Africa, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal

How's this for ballsy (I filed this one under "hiking", tho that seems to be an understatement). A couple of guys decide to do their part to help the world, in this case to bring better water conditions to Africa and Africans, and look for what would seem an impossible goal. One that would capture the attention of the world, or at least of the good folks at National Geographic, who can then help them get noticed.

Well, Kevin Lin, Ray Zahab, and Charlie Engle set out late last year to run...that's right to RUN across the entire expanse, west to east, of the Sahara Desert. Never mind that they had a big film crew with them and gobs of support, that is still a massive and jaw-dropping undertaking.

Charlie, Ray and Kevin touched the Red Sea, back in February, bringing the epic trip to an end. It lasted 111 days and took them through 6 countries: Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Libya, and Egypt. By their own GPS log, they covered over 4,300 miles. Yow.

Of course, all these guys are hard core mega-endurance types. Engle himself, the team leader is said to be one of the best ultra distance marathon runners in the world today, And as you might expect (and as I mentioned above) there will be a film on the effort (Narrated by Matt Damon), and the Web site had got gobs of lovely info including pictures, bios and an overview of the effort. What would Lawrence of Arabia have said?

Running the Sahara originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Lonely, Dead Tree of T�n�r�

Justin Glow — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: History, Africa, Niger

A damn interesting article popped up on DamnInteresting.com today about the Lonely Tree of Ténéré -- known as the most isolated tree on the planet, located in remote Niger. That is, until one day in 1973 when an allegedly drunk Libyan lost control of his truck and slammed into the tree, ripping it from the sand and subsequently changing it's title to the tree formally known as the most isolated tree on the planet.

How'd you like to be that guy? We've all done some stupid things while drunk, no doubt, but this one takes the cake. I mean, what are the odds? You're driving - in the world's largest hot desert no less, where plant life is virtually non-existent - and you slam into the only thing with a shadow in a 400 kilometer radius. Whoops.

You can read more about the Lonely Tree of Ténéré at DamnInteresting.com. Or if you're interested learning about other famous trees around the planet, this Wikipedia entry is a step in the right direction.

The Lonely Tree of Ténéré at DamnInteresting.com
Tree of Ténéré at Wikipedia
List of Famous Trees at Wikipedia
Original location of the Lonely Tree at Google Maps

The Lonely, Dead Tree of T�n�r� originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Africa Travel: Niger

Adrienne Wilson — Wed, 15 Mar 2006 22:27:00 EST

Filed under: History, Learning, Africa, Niger

Whenever you find yourself having a hard time finding good information on a destination not as frequented as others you can always rely on Lonely Planet and even UNESCO's World Heritage List to point out spots of interest. Seems there is a World Heritage landmark in every country these days and for my short blurb on Niger that is exactly what I'm going to direct your attention to. The W National Park of Niger is an area where savannah and forest land meet, mix and the river at the park's northern border form a double bend. Wildlife is scarce according to LP, but a variety of bird life is still left to be seen. UNESCO also mentions how the site reflects the interaction between natural resources and humans since Neolithic times. That could be pretty far-out.

If something like this sounds right up your alley I did manage to find a tour company that specializes in trip to Niger and this area specifically. Looks like an eight day affair around the country with days six and seven at the W. For more details click here to go to Nigercar Voyages. Also, be sure to check with the US Embassy for additional notes on the country is general.

Africa Travel: Niger originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 Mar 2006 22:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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